No, After You . . .

by Sui Juris on Oct 16, 2009 12:28 PM EDT

Remember that Jayco Herald Sun Tour race down in Australia? Well, Garmin does seem to have it wrapped up, but *who* on Garmin, well, that's another story. Chris Sutton has been enjoying the yellow jersey for most of the week, with Wiggins working for him. Wiggins, however, blew away the time trial, gaining the yellow jersey yesterday. By how much? 4 seconds. So, what's going to happen on the last remaining stage?

"We might just have a big punch-up in the carpark and see who comes off best," joked Wiggins after the yellow jersey presentation. “Actually haven't been in this position before, so I don't know how we will work it out.

If Chris wants to win, he can win. We always ride together, we get on really well and we are close both on and off the bike. I might let him have it.”

Sutton, of course, is feeling generous, too:

Sutton, who has benefited from Wiggins lead-out work many times this season, was equally magnanimous: "I'll ride for Wiggo. We've known each other since 2006 when we were at Cofidis. Bradley's a great time trial specialist and this morning talking at breakfast he really calmed me down. He is always helping me.

"We bleed for each other. We're brothers in arms. We are not racing against each other, it's a team effort. I just didn't win three stages here, it was the boys who put me there."

So what to do? Oh, and Svein Tuft's in 4th, 39 seconds back.

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Punch-up

It’s the only civilized way to do it.

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Oct 16, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions

let's some other team take it,

no really, we don’t need it

by yeehoo on Oct 16, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Sutton is going to Sky next year, Wiggins wants to.

The DS should screw them both and get Tuft into second position for the overall. Nice problem to have though.

Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/

by flying dog on Oct 16, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Tom Peterson

did say he’ll ride for Wiggo….

by rbjhan on Oct 16, 2009 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

Rooting for Cantwell here...

But then, I’m still thinking the battle of Culloden could have gone the other way.

by tgartner on Oct 16, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

So

both of them now have the “I wasn’t trying” excuse ready and waiting when the other wins. Brilliant!

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 16, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

Seems like by far the best interpretation to me...

by Ed K on Oct 16, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

which is why I'd love to see Tuft

drop the hammer on all of them, and take it away.

by Sui Juris on Oct 16, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm with you on that one, go tuft!

by lyne on Oct 16, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

If I'm Matt White...

I tell Wiggins that the only way he can go for the win is if he attacks from 5k out. That way, the Garmin train can relax and let other teams chase. If Wiggins wins, you get a stage win and the overall. If he’s caught, then Sutton goes for the sprint, and you get the overall and a really good shot at a stage win.

by PopUp Rolen on Oct 16, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

Apparently Wigan has some stuff going on

Is he out? http://twitter.com/bradwiggins/

Heading to Melbourne head fucked about stuff, death causes so much shit in people’s lives

And I have a bloody yellow jersey to defend! where’s the airport?

by tedvdw on Oct 16, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions

Today's only a criterium, so there's not much 'defending'

Re. the twitter, who knows. He was certainly pissy at post race interview yesterday. Did you know that his Australian father, from whom it appears he was estranged, died under very dubious circumstances in Oz? Not sure being here would ever be entirely comfortable. I am however speculating.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 16, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Chris is the local boy

It would be churlish of Wiggins to not continue the tradition of England losing to Australia in sporting fixtures.

Carn Sutton.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Oct 16, 2009 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

You need to stop now... our success rate is a bit below par at the moment

We mustn’t court derision… and remember, ‘There are no gifts’. ;-)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 16, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

A historical blip!

~~dot com stocks~~ Australia’s sporting success can only get better!

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Oct 19, 2009 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions

get it where you can

The Aussie tradition of whining in pursuit of success is a strong one, for sure . . .

by Sui Juris on Oct 16, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Was that funny?

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 16, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, you're playing for the 'Bwahaha' that'll come later. Oops

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 16, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahem

“whinging pom” has more than 100,000 google hits.

“whining aussie” has just over 1,000.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Oct 19, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions

And we don't

tend to call the winners in our national footy competitions “world champions” when no-one else from around the world has a chance to compete.

but the USA’s reputation for graciousness and modesty in all sporting adventures is of course well-known.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Oct 19, 2009 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions

just efficiency, that.

by Sui Juris on Oct 19, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

easy explanation

When you’ve won, you’re out celebrating. No time to sit home and project.

by Sui Juris on Oct 19, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Wiggins takes the win

Cantwell the stage win.
Garmin had 6 men at the front for pretty much the whole race. Wiggins was glued on Sutton’s wheel the whole race, they both went early and Cantwell got bookends for the Tour.

“Bradley had the yellow … today was his day.”
-Sutton

07 & 09

by Wireless on Oct 17, 2009 5:54 AM EDT reply actions

I'll re-post here what I put in the 'main' thread for the race

I saw the last stage.
Garmin were hammering it on the front; completely controlled it.

Various attempts at breaking away, but no-one stayed clear. Kristian House was wearing white shorts, by the way. He had a dig at one point early on but was gassed and ending up falling off the back. At least he finished; plenty didn’t.

Peterson cut a lonely figure after he was shelled: determined to finish to get his mountains jersey, though, which he did.

Wiggins did well in the first intermediate sprint, getting a further two seconds on Sutton. Garmin were clearly riding for Wiggins from then, and were also very clearly the strongest team there. The pace in the last few laps looked nasty.

Cantwell did well in the finish, though, and took the stage in his green jersey. He looked delighted.

At one point I was walking down the eastern side of Lygon Street when I saw a few rental trucks/lorries, such as you might use to move house. In the back of one of them (a 2-tonner, I reckon) were three blokes sat at little desks looking at laptops, and wearing headphones. It was Liggett and Keenan et al. Ah, the glamour of working in television.

by Drongo on Oct 18, 2009 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

I replied in the other thread, but thanks.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 18, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t think anyone was reading it any more, hidden as it was. You’re unusually diligent; what can I say?

I get lost on these threads (there’s a bit to catch up on if I’ve been away from a computer or a weekend) and it took me a while to find this one.

by Drongo on Oct 18, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

*for a weekend

my typing skills have been left in a pub somewhere

by Drongo on Oct 18, 2009 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Not so much diligent as feeling that someone should bear witness

to the end of the tale. Hadn’t thought of blaming my atrocious typing skills on the pub, but it has both merit and a sort of veracity ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 18, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions

If you want to keep a thread up longer on the front page

you can hit the rec button and suggest others do the same. It only takes five people to rec a thread and it will stay on top for a while. Just mentioning it here as a general reminder.

Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/

by flying dog on Oct 18, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the report.

By any chance did you over hear Ligget talking about how Lance was winning, was going to win or has already won the race.

Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/

by flying dog on Oct 18, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

He was so well behaved I'm starting to think it's all Paul ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 18, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

use your imagination!

even Phil has some.
he was talking about how the young australian riders get on to the livestrong team…

by rbjhan on Oct 19, 2009 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Was he dissing anyone one else in his backhanded way when he said it,

You know, “Only the smart young aussies” and such.

Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/

by flying dog on Oct 19, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Objective view, no.

He’s not my fave by any means, but in Oz which as you know is only small, guys being picked up by Garmin or spotted by LA is a big deal. Doesn’t matter who tells the story, it’s cause for celebration here. Personally, I’d prefer they were all with Stuey at Saxo, but I’m thinking that guys like Gerro would disagree.
Wiggo also won don’t forget, Phil actually didn’t have to adopt anyone ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Oct 19, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions